Garden Magic on a White Night

Artist, designer Erja Hirvi in her summer house garden.

In summer, night never really arrives in Finland. It feels as if nature only takes a brief pause between days, and it is hard to tell how long that moment lasts — a few minutes, an hour, or two. During that time, the light grows a little dimmer, the sounds quieter, and the air cooler. You are very much awake, but in a different way. A more magical way, perhaps.

It was because of those white Nordic nights that we set off on a trip four years ago. A winding gravel road, lined with endless fields of wildflowers, led us to the summer house of Erja Hirvi. She has a garden there, and we wanted to experience it at night.

Erja is an accomplished Finnish artist and designer. Her floral patterns have long played an important role in Marimekko’s collections, and this year it has been especially hard to miss her work. Her Kukasta kukkaan pattern has appeared throughout Marimekko’s spring and summer collection.

Erja painted the original artwork for the pattern on the floor of her summer house. During our visit, another piece of fabric by her was hanging in the doorway, and Erja pulled yet another one from the trunk of her old, dark grey Volvo.

Erja’s garden is an old one that she has gradually kept developing. It surrounds the house and seems to enter inside through the open windows. On the warm summer night, we wandered through the garden and the flower meadow she had planted. We talked about flowers, butterflies, colours, and the mysterious plant discoveries Erja had made.

Join us in Erja’s garden. The story is called Midnight Flowers, and it is part of the Iris Issue.

Yours,
Anna and Kreetta

To see more of Erja’s work and daily inspiration, follow her on Instagram at @erjahirvi.